In 1967 the Lladró brothers purchased a small porcelain factory
very close to the city of Valencia and began collaborating
with the best local porcelain artisans. A new style was born,
with the staff being trained specifically for that purpose,
leading to the first creations commercialized under the name Rosal.
Seen from the optic of current standards, the modeling of these
figurines might look less sophisticated; however these creations are
full of charm and innocence, two features that have been lovingly
maintained in its subsequent evolution.
Rosal created
pieces with themes that would endure as the brand evolved:
focusing primarily on a life full of romanticism in an undefined
idyllic time.
Following the success of the new brand, the next step came
in 1975. The name of the collection changed to ZAPHIR and
the factory moved to new premises with larger workshops, with
a view to expanding the company in the future. ZAPHIR creations
were more stylized and embraced a wider variety of themes.
They were the natural result of the porcelain mastery gained
by the young artisans.
The popularity of the brand in the USA spread rapidly,
confirming it as an internationally renowned brand. This led
the Lladró brothers
to search for a different business name and to work towards
introducing themselves into other international markets. NAO borrowed
its name from the old sailing boats from the time of Columbus,
and symbolizes a return journey to origins, conveying creativity, skill
and magic. This is how the dream of the Lladró brothers came
into being: to make porcelain figurines affordable for lovers of beauty.
Today,
the Lladró brothers original small workshop has now become a
corporation where hundreds of artists work everyday, producing creations
which are sold all over the world.